It can be said with great certainty that the most important household furniture would be a refrigerator. Without a refrigerator, it is not possible to keep your food and drinks fresh, as well as cold. Thus, when you are setting up a home, one of the first things that you need to set up would be getting a refrigerator. In practicality, you can live without great many things in your home, but you won’t be able to live without a refrigerator.

However, if you are going to be living in an apartment, then you will need to choose your refrigerator carefully, as you will have to think about the space requirements. Luckily for you, many refrigerator brands make apartment size refrigerator models just for this purpose. The main theme of an apartment refrigerator would be to be big enough to take in all of the food items that you need to store; while at the same time it will have to be small enough to comfortably fit in the confines of an apartment. Especially in metropolitan cities, space in apartments is a problem as buildings are designed to have as many flats as possible in a building. Due to this architectural design principle in metropolitan cities, most flats have less space allocated to the kitchen area in order to give more area to other parts of the flat. Hence, an apartment size refrigerator will need to take all of these into account.

Almost all the big refrigerator brands have a special type of an apartment refrigerator. Usually, in an apartment size refrigerator, it is made as tall as possible, while its width is kept intentionally small. Thus, this causes most of these apartment sized refrigerators to become tall, but narrow. This way, their chances of fitting into a tight apartment space would greatly increase.

When you are buying an apartment refrigerator, the important thing is to make sure that you have your budget, as well as your space requirements clearly set. Be prepared to spend some extra money to get the best possible apartment sized refrigerator to meet your needs. For example, if you require storing more frozen food, then you will have to get an apartment sized refrigerator that has a larger freezer space, as compared to a regular one. In addition, make sure to measure the length and the width of the space that is reserved for the refrigerator in your apartment. Some flats may have low heights in the kitchen or the width may be excessively narrow. Hence, make sure that you are aware of these dimensions; so that you can make sure your apartment size refrigerator will fit into the space. Then, compare the prices of the various manufacturers and see the overall picture. Some manufacturers may give you an extended warranty for a small difference and you should definitely prefer that.  You will also need to make sure that you compare the overall cubic per volume space in each refrigerator as some of them may have the same dimensions, but some of them may have more volume in the interior. This way, you can make sure that you will get the best apartment size refrigerator for your needs.

Technorati Tags: apartment refrigerator, apartment size refrigerator

If you are fond of taking camping trips, then you know how fun it can be to be in synchrony with the peacefulness of the nature. It is not that uncommon to take an RV with your family to a secluded place so that you can get away from it all in the weekend.  Being away from all the hassles of the modern society can be refreshing for many people. However, one of the problems that you will face will be the ability to cool your foods and drink. Especially having a cold drink in a hot and humid summer nights can be important in a camping trip. However, if you are in a place with no electricity, operating a refrigerator can be a difficult issue. Luckily for you, it is possible for you to use a propane refrigerator which doesn’t need any electricity to operate.

In essence, a propane refrigerator uses a propane cylinder or natural gas to work. It has no mechanical moving parts or no electric engine, so you don’t need any electricity at all in order to operate your propane refrigerator. All you would need for the operation of your propane refrigerator would be a steady supply of propane or sometimes LNG. In essence, the propane is burnt which causes some heat to be released in a controlled fashion. Then, the heat is transferred to ammonia or some other conductive liquid through heat radiators. Ammonia then basically passes through the condenser and then when it reaches the evaporator, it is allowed to mix with hydrogen gas. Then, this gas mixture is causes heat energy to be changed into cold temperatures inside the propane refrigerator. The solution is constantly circulated around the propane refrigerator, so that the original heat energy is used as an exchange mechanism to create cooler temperatures inside the refrigerator, in concordance with the thermodynamic laws.

Hence, when you are on your RV or on your camping trip, you don’t have to give up on cold beer or any cold drinks as your propane refrigerator will cool it down for you to create the best possible alternative. Of course, the uses of a propane refrigerator are quite diverse, as you can also use it in your small boat as well. In fact, a propane refrigerator is usable at so many places, you will be surprised. You can even use it in a farm house, which may be completely off the grid. You will not need to depend on the amenities of the civilization, as you can use your propane refrigerator to exist anywhere and at any time without electricity. Of course, you will need to look at your options clearly before committing yourself to buying a propane refrigerator. Naturally, their sizes as well as their accessories will also change and you will need to match your budget with your expectations in order to get the best possible result with your propane refrigerator. Hence, now you can be anywhere in the sea, in a farm, or even in the middle of the jungle, as your propane refrigerator will be all that you need.

Technorati Tags: propane refrigerator

Across cultures, the kitchen is considered the heart of the home, the place where delectable meals are lovingly prepared before they reach the dining table. By choosing panel ready refrigerators to grace the kitchen, families can make this part of the home truly their own.

This type of refrigerator features a design that can be easily customized, simply through the use of additional custom refrigerator panels. In fact, changing the look of the refrigerator is as easy as swapping the panels. The homeowners can then have a refrigerator that easily matches the design and colors of the existing kitchen cupboard and cabinets. The result is a kitchen that exhibits fine aesthetic taste and will easily impress the guests.

In addition, today’s selection of refrigerators of this kind comes with a number of innovative features to address the food storage needs of every family. These include adjustable door bins and storage shelves, advanced humidity controls, automatic ice and water dispensing system, spill proof glass shelves and multiple temperature sensors.

This refrigerator may come in the side-by-side, French-door, bottom or top-freezer variety. To take advantage of its remarkable features, homeowners simply need to link up with a trusted home appliance distributor and choose among the world’s best-known brands.

Select appliance stores maintain an online portal which allows customers to save time and effort in finding panel ready refrigerators to suit their needs. All it takes is trimming down the options according to their price, brand or type, as well as comparing the specs and visiting the relevant consumer reviews websites.

AJ Madison of Brooklyn, New York offers panel-ready refrigerators from the best brands in today’s market. Visit AJMadison.com or call 800-570-3355 learn more about the appliances available.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Y._Tilden

Technorati Tags: Glass Refrigerator

There is not a home, condo, or apartment in America that could not benefit from a “mini fridge.” These appliances have been making mass exoduses to colleges and universities for years. While students were using them to culture new strands of molds and keep their “Nattie Lite” cold, mom and dad were placing one on the pool deck so they could enjoy beverages without having to dry off or walk through the house.

The mini refrigerator is unbelievably universal. The same one I had 6 years ago in my freshman dormitory now resides in my office. There are days when I open it expecting to see week old pizza in a Tupperware container and a few leftover cans of cheap beer. Today that small refrigerator holds bottles of water, diet Coke, as well as my day’s lunch and an open bag of M&Ms.

I had a girlfriend a few years ago who had a mini frigerator (sometimes I don’t get the re- part. Is it being re-cooled?) just for her collection of Rieslings. When she left, she left the fridge as well. That wine fringes now next to my roommate’s favorite chair in our living room now. Herwine refrigerator became his beer fridge.

So you see, buying a mini fridge is an investment. Get the right one and it will serve you for a lifetime. They draw very little power and can be used for different foods/beverages and can serve many purposes. Recently, I have even seen one converted into a kegerator.

Visit MiniFridgerator.com today and look around. The articles will give you a better feel than I have and the Google links will help you find the product you are looking for.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Hosier

Are you looking for a way to deal with the high temperatures? Do you want a refrigerator at work but there’s just not enough room? Do you live in a dormitory and don’t have the space for a full size fridge? The easiest way to solve all these problems is to get a mini fridge with freezer. It will improve the quality of food you eat and help you keep a check on your temper which is being stoked by the heat. Protecting your food from getting spoiled and at the same time offering you a choice of chilled or frozen food items, this mini fridge will become indispensable in your life.

With home cooked food and a chilled fruit shake in your portable mini fridge with freezer, you’ll reduce your waist size really fast. You won’t need to stuff yourself with those high calorie snacks or fizzy drinks from the store. Instead you can take the smart alternative and go healthy in your food choice. Great for portability and storage, these devices can be easily carried in your car. Sometimes, a single full sized refrigerator is not enough for your family’s needs, especially in the sweltering hot summer months. You can always do with some extra space to keep your food in.

If you happen to live alone or in a studio style apartment, then a small sized mini fridge with freezer is just the thing you need. Ideal for storing your food supplies, such a fridge can fit in a corner of your room. They come in a number of colors and depending on the specifications, can cost around $ 70 for a basic model to about $200 for a high end branded product. Apart from their functional value, they also add a touch of class to your otherwise bare bachelor rooms and make it homey.

If you want to set up a well furnished den, you cannot miss out on a mini fridge with freezer. It is ideal for a nice party with your friends on super bowl night or for the NBA finals but be careful, buying a mini fridge because adequate research may result you getting badly ripped off. Search the internet, ask for the feedback from customers and make sure you know about the energy consumption beforehand. Go out to your local retailers and talk to them about after sales service because you want value for money when you buy a mini fridge with freezer.

Get a mini fridge with freezer and change your lives for ever! Even a simple mini freezer can bring a huge change to any area it is added to. Keep your food items frozen and never throw a thing away again!

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lydia-Clelia_Stonewood

Technorati Tags: Glass Refrigerator

A refrigerator is perhaps one of the most frequent home appliances. This home appliance accounts for a great percentage of your total energy intake. If you don’t want inflated electricity bills, then you must make sure that the efficacy of your refrigerator is high.

Maybe, one of the simplest yet the most effective things that you could do to boost the efficiency of your refrigerator is to increase the temperature settings. Ideally, the temperature of your fridge should be 37°F plus the fridge temperature should be 0°F. Having your fridge at this temperature will make certain that your food isn’t spoiled.

Yet an additional thing that you can do to increase refrigerator proficiency would be to turn away the ice maker. This easy step could help you save power significantly. Ice makers take up almost 14-20% of the total power consumed by the refrigerators. Instead, of the ice maker, make use of the traditional ice trays. Ice makers are only decent if you are going to require ice in large amounts. You could use it if you have a cocktail party at house. But, ensure that you have alcohol moderately, primarily in case you’re battling with the difficulty of great blood strain.

A lot of people are likely to keep cereal boxes, weight loss foods and also other convenience stuff on the top of their refrigerator. Nevertheless, this rehearse ought to be exactly avoided in case you wish to increase the effectiveness of your chiller. Maintaining things on top of the fridge does not allow the heat to evade. As a outcome, your refrigerator is forced to work tougher in order to keep cool.

It is also significant to be certain that you keep all probable sources of heat away from the chiller. Your refrigerator ought to not be kept next to the stove, dishwater or any appliance that emits heat. The heat will reason the refrigerator temperature to increase. Try to keep your fridge in a cool corner of the kitchen.

You should strictly refrain from keeping open containers in the fridge. A certain amount of moisture is released when you do so. This moisture, subsequently, may cause an increase of the internal moisture levels of the refrigerator. As a result, the compressor is forced to work much harder and consume more energy in the process.

Also, try to make certain that your fridge is full at all times. Your refrigerator calls for lesser energy to keep cool when it’s full. However, this doesn’t imply which you ought to stuff your refrigerator. This could stop air circulation, which can cause spoiling of food. Ideally, your refrigerator ought to be three fourth full.

Comply with the provided suggestions and you’ll surely maintain an best proficiency degree of your fridge.

Here are a few more ways to know about Weight Loss Foods and Save Energy.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Austin

Technorati Tags: Glass Refrigerator

Are you in the market for a new refrigerator? If so, this list will help you determine the best options available. After comparing many refrigerators, we came up with some of the best options for 2010. These all get great reviews and great rankings.

There are several key factors to look at when purchasing a new refrigerator. As this is a major investment, you’ll obviously want to find something real durable. The quality of available features, functionality and style are also very important. Since you’ll be looking at it almost everyday, make sure the style suits your needs. Then of course, there’s price. You can’t buy the fridge if it’s not in your budget, so determine your budget. Nobody likes cleaning a fridge, so take a look at cleaning ease.

With these factors in mind, there are plenty of options for you. This list will cover some of the best options available, based on my thoughts, ratings and reviews. These refrigerators are in no specific order.

When it comes to kitchen appliances, there’s no top ranking list without Viking making an appearance. The Viking VCFF136SS 19.6 cubic feet counter French door refrigerator is one of the best of 2010. Any review that’s been written about this fridge has been great, whether it’s by users or by magazines. This refrigerator can be purchased for less than $3,500 and you’ll get a high quality fridge that also looks great!

There are many great features on this Viking. It comes with an interior water filtration system which has been integrated in a way without using an exterior dispenser. This means it maximizes storage space without wasting it on water systems. The freezer is superb! When you need more ice, this freezer will automatically lower in temperature to produce ice quicker.

The next option is the LG LFC22740S. This is a stainless steel fridge with French doors and has really taken LG to the next level. This is an extremely well priced option at around $1,600. Even at this price, this is a reliable product and offers some great features.

If you want organization, this LG has a great system that’s divided in a very efficient way. You can also easily store food in there. It comes with four split spill-protector tempered glass shelves and five compartments for dairy. They also provide ample space in the freezer with a full width wire basket. In order to keep it at a perfect temperature, they’re built in a multi-air flowing cooling system.

Buying a new fridge can be overwhelming, but make sure you’re buying something that’s in your budget and has enough space. There’s nothing worse than a fridge too small. Remember, this is an investment in something you’ll have for a long time so make sure you take your time!

This author recently renovated his kitchen and enjoys writing about what he’s learned. He also wrote an article on new kitchen cabinets and how to find inexpensive kitchen cabinets.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benjamin_Rhodes

Technorati Tags: Glass Refrigerator

Kitchen Organizers For Budding Chefs

As one of the most common hang-out areas in the house, the kitchen can quickly become a cluttered room without an easy and clear storage system in place. For smaller kitchens, how you make use of space is crucial while even larger kitchens will benefit from an organized layout. Fortunately, there are a variety of smart storage solutions that will help make any chef’s life a little easier.

Add More Storage Space

Are you short on cabinet space? Create some of your own without undergoing the costly hassle of a kitchen remodel with slender yet spacious organizers that will add a little extra room where it’s needed most. Try installing the Adjustable Door Rack on the inside of your pantry door. With seven wire baskets that can be adjusted up or down along the 67″ frame, you’ll be able to store extra cans and dry goods. Another popular option is the Slim Slide out Pantry, with its five inch width that is perfect for that awkward space in between the refrigerator and cabinet. Three tiers can hold anything from cleaning supplies to extra food and accessories while the casters provide a simple pull-out design for easy access. Provide extra storage for your kitchen necessities and you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.

Keep Waste and Recycling in Check

Don’t let waste products take over your kitchen. Say goodbye to messy lidded trashcans with the 14 Gallon Touchless No Clearance Can. Using infrared sensor technology, the top slides open automatically when your hand come within six inches—you won’t have to fumble with a lid any longer! Once open, this innovative garbage can stays open for three seconds and then closes to hide away trash and keep odors to a minimum. Perfect for the chef with messy hands, this trash can has a sturdy metal construction and a convenient design that will improve any kitchen. If you’re sick of dealing with overflowing recycling containers, then check out the Triple Stack Recycle Bins. Three nesting bins each feature an open lip at the top to receive bottles, papers, and more. One lid conceals the top compartment from view while the convenient stacking design is perfect for the small pantry or foyer. By taming your trash and recycling area, you’ll discover space you didn’t even know you had.

Introduce Wine and Stemware Storage

Wine bottles and glasses can quickly get out of control and take up a lot of space when left unchecked. Free your fridge and cabinets from an abundance of wine bottles with the 44 Bottle Pine Wine Rack. The slender construction takes up as little space as possible while still leaving room for up to 44 bottles. The natural design can also be painted or stained as needed to fit in with your kitchen decor. Win back precious counter or cabinet space with the Large Stemware Holder. Six slots generally hold two large wine glasses each in this rack that can be installed under your top hanging cabinets. Perfect for those handwash only glasses that need to drip dry, this wine glass rack is dur
1000
ably crafted of heavy metal wiring with a shiny chrome finish. Taking a little time now to simplify your wine storage and accessories will save you a lot of headaches in the future.

Create a Spot for Miscellaneous Kitchen Items

Typically, it’s the little things that add up in any kitchen and gradually outgrow the junk drawer or small cabinet that they are placed in. Plastic bags are a case in point: not only do they multiply quickly over time, but they also can take up a surprising amount of space. That’s why products like the Upright Bag Holder are so important for keeping these kitchen extras in their place. With the capacity to hold up to 50 bags, this organizer will store and dispense those pesky shopping bags for easy use and slender storage. The no-skid base will keep this bag storage solution in place on your pantry shelf while the stainless steel and polypropylene construction will withstand everyday wear. For the chef with the growing spice collection, the Revolving Spice Carousel is a handy space-saving solution. 16 glass canisters can be filled up with your most needed herbs and spices and stored on the revolving rack that only takes up nine square inches of counter space. Clear labels and plastic shaker inserts are included to make classifying and measuring an easy task. Keep your essential spices within easy reach with this economical choice.

Win the war against clutter in your kitchen with several well-placed organizers that discreetly provide extra storage that won’t take over your decor. From extra shelving to a recycling system or space-friendly spice rack, your next kitchen organizer could be just what you need to tame the chaos.

By: Mary Watkins

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Mary Watkins is a freelance writer who writes about home maintenance topics and products such as kitchen organizers.

Technorati Tags: Glass Refrigerator

Glass door refrigerators are beautiful devices. Expensive ones, but they do a tremendous job at showcasing a delectable selection of food and drinks in commercial settings.

Whether you’re using a glass door refrigerator for an office, a restaurant, or any other environment, you’ll want to take a few things into consideration when buying your glass door refrigerator.

The first thing that you’ll want to look at is the size of the device. See how this measures up with your needs, as I’ve seen people far too often making the mistake of buying something that’s simply not big enough for their needs.

Doing such a thing can really make things difficult, as you’ll often be left with a unit that still leaves you needing another. Conversely, I’ve seen others make the blunder of buying something too big, which ends up turning into a waste of space.

Buying a unit that’s too large also brings about another issue that I’d like to bring up. These refrigerators are really powerful units, which is something you’ll want to keep in mind.

Anything this powerful is going to require a lot of energy in order to run. As a result, buying a glass door refrigerator that’s too large will cost you unnecessary energy expenses on a monthly basis.

Lean in the direction of buying an energy efficient model. Not only will you be doing right by the environment here, but you’ll save yourself a nice amount of money over time. Each and every monthly bill adds up, and you’ll definitely want to take this into consideration when shopping for potential fridges.

Lastly, you’ll want to seek out something with a legitimate warranty. These are expensive units, and parts often need replacing or repairing.

The last situation you want to find yourself in is one that leaves you stuck with a dysfunctional unit that spoils your food and beverages, and costs you extra money. A good warranty will provide quick service at no cost for at least a few years after purchase.

Patricia Fields writes frequently about glass door refrigerators at http://glassdoorrefrigerators.org.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Fields

Technorati Tags: Glass Refrigerator

Haier Hvts16amb Review

Do you find it hard to achieve the perfect temperature when chilling your wine? Are you tired of serving dinner with wine that is not chilled? The truth is that most people prefer their wine chilled. Wine is perhaps one of the best alcoholic drinks. It even has significant health benefits provided that you take it in moderation. Wine is the perfect companion for your favourite pasta dish. Any dinner can be extra special with wine on the menu. If you think you have the perfect kitchen but have no place to store and chill your wine in, then maybe you should think of investing in a Haier HVTS16AMB.

The Haier HVTS16AMB is a 16 bottle wine cellar that is made with a double pane glass door with a bamboo finish exterior. Very classy, isn’t it? Its medium-coloured bamboo finish is the perfect touch to your kitchen. It is only 24 inches in height and 19 inches in width, making it very easy to fit in your kitchen. You can put it on a countertop or it can be a perfect addition to your mini-bar.

The Haier HVTS16AMB can fit up to 16 bottles of wine. It keeps all your favourite wine chilled while saving it from premature aging. It comes with easy to navigate controls on the top so you can adjust the temperature depending on your preference. Any wine aficionado would know that wine has to be chilled at a certain temperature to achieve the best taste. With this cellar, you don’t have to store your wines inside your refrigerator anymore.

A good bottle of wine deserves its own container. If you think the same, then you should definitely get yourself a Haier HVTS16AMB now. It uses thermo-electric cooling technology that makes it very quiet during operation. It is also equipped with an interior light, making it easier for you to see your wine selection, even in the dark. The soft light interior also gives it a classier look when displayed in your mini-bar or your kitchen.

The Haier HVTS16AMB is also relatively cheap compared to other wine coolers; and because of its very classy design, no one would ever guess how much it is. Give yourself and your guests the chilled wine you all deserve. With this cooler, you can make any dinner special for anyone. Make your evenings worthwhile by going home to a house that has perfectly chilled wine. Never again would you have to worry about achieving the perfect temperature for your wine.

By: Robert Caby

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

The Avanti Bottle Digital Wine Cellar is one of the highest rated wine fridges. Read more Wine Refrigerator Reviews and info.

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Product Reviews Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From – Home | Product Reviews

Few Safety Tips for Buying Genuine Discount Perfumes
Leatherman Skeletool sharpens elegance of its owner
Leatherman Skeletool sharpens elegance of its owner
Leatherman Tool Can Enhance Your Business and Domestic Life
Low Cost Solar Panel With Self Made Solar Panel
Leatherman UK becoming indispensable more and more
Have Leatherman knives for betterment in domestic front
Leatherman multi-tool- the best available option for you
Leatherman Skeletool sharpens elegance of its owner
Leatherman tool can be useful to you in lots of ways
Leatherman: Tools to die for!
Gift Leatherman Juice – it’s simply the best
The Snore Stopper, Anti-Snore Devices and your Hate for Snoring
The Features Of Tiffany Hanging Lamp
Tips On Handling Electric Hair Clippers

Technorati Tags: Glass Refrigerator

Present in almost every household, the refrigerator is one of the primary appliances in use and this accounts for a considerable percentage of electric consumption. The effective and efficient operation of your refrigerator will dictate the extent of your electricity bill from month to month.

It is very urgent and important to keep an ideal efficiency performance ratio for your refrigerator if you wish to keep your electric bills in check. There are of course several ways to achieve efficiency in the kitchen, especially in regard to the management of your humble refrigerator.

Increasing the temperature settings of your refrigerator is perhaps the most convenient way to improve its efficiency and optimum performance. The ideal temperatures of your fridge should be around 37 degrees Fahrenheit at the minimum and about 0 degree Fahrenheit at the maximum coldness. This range of temperature assures you that all the food you store are kept from spoilage over a good period of time.

One good way to increase the performance of your refrigerator is to turn off the ice maker. This move may give you enough energy savings also. Around 15 to 20 percent of the total electric consumption of refrigerators is attributed to the use and operation of the ice maker alone.

Ice makers are justified only when you have to use a lot of ice for specific purposes like parties. Instead of the ice maker, you can opt to use the conventional ice trays which provide for nominal ice usage. This method would go a long way in keeping your fridge at optimum performance and conservative use.

The top of your refrigerator should ideally be clean and clear of any items. While a lot of people do stack a lot of assorted things on the top of their refrigerators, it is important to note that this stacking effectively blocks the heat from your refrigerator to escape easily to the atmosphere. When such blockade happens, the effectiveness of your refrigerator is considerably compromised, as it would work more in cooling its system.

Remember to always position your refrigerator in the coolest place in the kitchen and away from heat sources. Avoid positioning your fridge by the window where it would be exposed to sunlight, or even worse, placing it right beside appliances that generate heat such as the oven, stove, or toaster, and even the dishwasher. When the refrigerator is exposed to external heat, it would also work harder and consume more energy in keeping its coolness.

Another area to check for in keeping the effectiveness of your refrigerator is to avoid storing food and liquids in open containers. Open containers release certain levels of moisture inside the fridge and with an increased level of moisture inside the refrigerator’s compressor is required to work harder using much more electricity in effect. Finally, avoid overstuffing your refrigerator with a lot of foodstuffs, as overcrowding also results in overworking your refrigerator to its limits.

These are the major aspects to your kitchenaid refrigerator on how to keep efficiency high and wastefulness to the minimum. Your refrigerator will be put to good use when you observe the different methods on maintaining efficiency and effectiveness.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shivangi_Mehra

Constructing A Home Wine Cellar

If you have a growing assortment of wine, it may be time to think about constructing a wine cellar. Some time ago the custom wine cellar was scarce; today more and more wine lovers are learning about wine cellar construction or contracting the work out to those who know how to do the job precisely.

Wine rooms are more than a dark, cool place to hold an assortment of wine bottles. Today’s custom wine cellar is a controlled environment where humidity and temperature are regulated to allow wine to properly age without harm to corks, labels or the wine itself.

There are two types of wine cellars. One is a room that has been mainly made to stock wine in the right environment and the other is a stand-alone unit that mirrors those conditions. A stand-alone wine cellar is not as effective as a custom-built version, but some people like the aesthetics of a small cooled refrigerator over a custom wine cellar. Those who do choose a custom cellar have three simple considerations for proper creation.

Temperature Control and Venting

A wine cellar room is used to hold and age the wine in the bottle rather than preserving it at a serving temperature. (A stand-alone wine refrigerator is best for transporting wine out of the cellar to maintain at serving temperatures.) Aging wine is a balance of time, temperature and the chemical reactions that happen as a result of the two.

Wine should be aged in conditions ranging between 55 and 65 percent humidity and a steady 55 degrees Fahrenheit, give or take one degree. Wine held at higher temperatures will mature quicker and wine experiences chemical reactions at higher temperatures that destroy the notes of the wine over time.

In some locations of the country, property holders with basements often find that the environment is right for basic wine storage, but seasonal temperature and humidity variations should be avoided. The perfect storage solution is a custom-built or DIY-construction wine cellar with climate and humidity control using a wine cooling unit to keep the temperature at a steady 55 degrees.

These units are available in a range of sizes and the dimensions of your wine cellar room will control what size you need to purchase. By no m
1000
eans buy a wine cellar cooling system too small for your room; you most likely will never get a steady, optimal storage temperature and the cooling unit will become overtaxed trying to keep up.

Wine cooling units require proper venting, and your wine cellar construction plan demands either a hole in the wall to allow venting outdoors or enough vent space to move warm air out of the room. Check the specs of your wine cooling system; most require a venting space at least two times as large as the wine cellar space itself.

Electrical power is also an issue. Custom wine cellar builders suggest a dedicated power source to run a wine cooling system. Those who choose to use a common power source frequently find the system overloading with blown fuses and other electrical problems.

Insulation and Vapor Barriers

The wine cooling unit is only part of your climate control plan for a custom wine cellar; you also need a vapor barrier made of plastic sheeting used on the “hot” side of the wall. Some people wrap the interior of the wine cellar previous to inserting the insulation, keeping the plastic loose so that insulation can be positioned between the studs in the wall. Wrap the ceiling and the walls, or your vapor barrier will be imperfect. After the barrier is installed, the insulation comes next.

Good wine cellar building requires the right kind of insulation for your walls and ceiling. For instance, if you are building a 2×6 wall, R19 insulation is recommended, but if you have a smaller wall of 2×4, R13 may be your best bet. (The “R” designation represents the heat resistance of the insulation.) Ceilings need R30. Custom wine cellar builders should never put in the insulation loose without filling the material into the sections, as this decreases the insulation’s effectiveness.

The next step is to install a type of drywall called green board, which is moisture-resistant, making it a bit more expensive than regular drywall. Install an exterior-grade door to the wine cellar and your climate control plan is complete.

Lighting and UV Exposure Control

Wine is damaged by UV exposure, which is why the bottles are normally constructed out of dark glass. Avoid installing fluorescent bulbs in the wine cellar room, as they give off UV radiation. Control the intensity by using recessed lighting on a dimmer and avoid shining light directly on your wine bottles for long periods of time. Some wine racks are created with compartments that hide bottles from the light which can help lessen the exposure, but if your bottles are kept in plain view, try to avoid the “spotlight” effect on your bottles.

Other Concerns

Almost any kind of flooring can be used in your custom wine cellar. If your home is large enough for a tasting room to complement your cellar, you may wish to give them both a matching look, but never use carpet and rugs in the cellar area. They simply can’t hold up to the required humidity levels without surrendering to mold. Mold growth will ruin your wine, as can any strong odor from chemicals or cheeses. A wine cellar should be used only to hold wine; store food in a separate space.

Constantly watch the temperature and humidity in your wine cellar with an external sensor or gauge. Never assume that the wine cooling system will always function accurately. A quick glimpse at the external gauge can offer you early notice if the wine cooling unit is having difficulties, or if the unit is showing a faulty readout because of a bad sensor or other technical troubles.

Building a custom wine cellar may require some attention to the design demands of proper wine cellar storage, however once correctly built, you may realize that your collection grows quickly; it’s simple to invest more money in wine when you realize it will be stored securely for maximum pleasure.

By: BAdams< 1000
/a>

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Ben Adams is the marketing director for Vigilant, Inc. a luxury goods manufacturer in Dover, NH. Vigilant is a premier manufacturer of wine cellars, wine racks and wine cellar doors as well as cigar storage equipment.

Technorati Tags: Glass Refrigerator